Method for making gasket including spherical stop means and vulcanized in-situ

Abstract

A process for the production of seals between surfaces operating at elevated temperatures is disclosed wherein a vulcanizable elastomer mixture is vulcanized by the heat transferred from the surfaces, and by the pressure created by adjustment of the space between the surfaces. In the invention, spacers are arranged between the surfaces to determine the final position thereof and hence the thickness of the seals and the pressure resistance of the spacers is higher than that of the elastomer mixture before or during vulcanization.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. In a method for sealing between two surfaces which operate at elevated temperatures wherein a vulcanizable elastomer composition is vulcanized in-situ by heat from said surfaces as a result of said elevated temperatures and under pressure developed by adjustment of spacing between said surfaces the improvement comprising: forming a sheet of unvulcanized elastomer composition, depositing a layer of spherical bodies of a suitable size and material on said sheet to limit compression of said elastomer composition between said surfaces, embedding said bodies at least partially in said sheet, inserting said sheet between said surfaces and curing said elastomer in-situ.   
     
     
       2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the spherical bodies are made from material selected from the group consisting of lead, hard rubber, ceramics, wood or glass. 
     
     
       3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the elastomer composition contains up to about 70% shredded cork. 
     
     
       4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the composition is performed into sealing elements and are thus exposed to vulcanization between the surfaces to be sealed. 
     
     
       5. The process according to claim 1 wherein the composition includes, fillers, plasticizers and vulcanizers. 
     
     
       6. The process according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the surfaces is solidly connected to spacers. 
     
     
       7. The process according to claim 6 wherein said spacers are in the shape of cones. 
     
     
       8. The process according to claim 6 wherein said spacers are in the shape of cams. 
     
     
       9. The process according to claim 1 wherein said spherical bodies are wholly embedded within said sheet.